Hiram Runnels, a Democrat, defeated incumbent Governor Abram Scott, a National Republican.

[2] Despite Runnels winning the election in May, he was not inaugurated until November because of confusion of when his term began.

During this confusion, Governor Scott died in June from cholera, resulting in Charles Lynch, the senate president, assuming office.

Once the legislature met in a special session in November, Runnels was inaugurated and assumed office.

Constitutionally, Runnels was supposed to take office in January 1834, causing an irregularity at the end of his two-year term.